Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

Mentioning that night she got drunk, Leda touched her nose with a hint of embarrassment.

"It was all my mom's fault, insisting I attend this so-called youth mixer. It was basically a speed dating dinner in disguise."

The young men and women were like items on display, laid out for selection.

Nola was great in every way, except for being a bit of a worrywart.

Going on about how 'unequal matches never work out' and 'love can't survive on empty pockets,' blah blah blah...

Leda was over it.

After the last visit home, she laid down the law with Nola: she could consider matches of similar social standing, but the final choice was hers to make.

In return, Nola had to swear off arranging any more blind dates or mixers behind her back.

Roseanne: "Choose for yourself?"

"Yeah, as long as the guy's family isn't broke, my mom's cool with it. Easy, I'll just pick from our circle!"

"You're really going to pick?"

Roseanne blinked.

a thing for "younger charmers," but to find one among these men who would dote on her, pamper

extra layer of pride. We're all from influential families; why should I, a grown man, lower myself

"I have to choose, or I can't face my

are plenty of us in our circle being pushed into marriage. Since none of us want to follow our families' plans, why not team

pretend we're together, and then

still enjoying their freedom on the side. A win-win. Roseanne still urged her to

"Don't worry, I know what I'm

the moment when Leda went to

said it was my treat, why did

foot the bill

"Right, my little heiress."

out to

your hands to yourself in

two girls laughed their way

a moment,

instinctively look

streaks of gray, neady all dressed in polo shirts

center

he was a stark contrast to